ArticleJMIR human factors2021
Evaluating An Automated Compounding Workflow Software for Safety and Efficiency: Implementation Study.
Article in JMIR human factors, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.
- Improving the Efficiency of the Intravenous Medicine Preparation Pathway With an Intravenous Workflow Software Solution in Full-Capacity Pharmacy Units at Watford General Hospital: Observational Study and Economic Analysis.JMIR human factors · 2026Observational
- The Impact of Automation and Digitalization in Hospital Medication Management: Economic Analysis in the European Countries.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Automated 3D Printing-Based Non-Sterile Compounding Technology for Pediatric Corticosteroid Dosage Forms in a Health System Pharmacy Setting.Pharmaceutics · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe forms of automation available to the oncology pharmacy range from compounding robotic solutions through to combination workflow software, which can scale-up to cover the entire workflow from prescribing to administration. A solution that offers entire workflow management for oncology is desirable because (in terms of cytotoxic delivery of a regimen to a patient) the chain that starts with prescription and the assay of the patient's laboratory results and ends with administration has multiple potential safety gaps and choke points.
objectiveThe aim of this study was to show how incremental change to a core compounding workflow software solution has helped an organization meet goals of improved patient safety; increasing the number of oncology treatments; improving documentation; and improving communication between oncologists, pharmacists, and nurses. We also aimed to illustrate how using this technology flow beyond the pharmacy has extended medication safety to the patient's bedside through the deployment of a connected solution for confirming and documenting right patient-right medication transactions.
methodsA compounding workflow software solution was introduced for both preparation and documentation, with pharmacist verification of the order, gravimetric checks, and step-by-step on-screen instructions displayed in the work area for the technician. The software supported the technician during compounding by proposing the required drug vial size, diluents, and consumables. Out-of-tolerance concentrations were auto-alerted via an integrated gravimetric scale. A patient-medication label was created. Integration was undertaken between a prescribing module and the compounding module to reduce the risk of transcription errors. The deployment of wireless-connected handheld barcode scanners was then made to allow nurses to use the patient-medication label on each compounded product and to scan patient identification bands to ensure right patient-right prescription.
resultsDespite an increase in compounding, with a growth of 12% per annum and no increase in pharmacy headcount, we doubled our output to 14,000 medications per annum through the application of the compounding solution. The use of a handheld barcode scanning device for nurses reduced the time for medication administration from ≈6 minutes per item to 41 seconds, with a mean average saving of 5 minutes and 19 seconds per item. When calculated against our throughput of 14,000 items per annum (current production rate via pharmacy), this gives a saving of 3 hours and 24 minutes of nursing time per day, equivalent to 0.425 full-time nurses per annum.
conclusionsThe addition of prescribing, compounding, and administration software solutions to our oncology medication chain has increased detection and decreased the risk of error at each stage of the process. The double-checks that the system has built in by virtue of its own systems and through the flow of control of drugs and dosages from physician to pharmacist to nurse allow it to integrate fully with our human systems of risk management.
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